District Singers in 4^th through 6^th Grades are Encouraged to Audition for MTHS Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat - A casting call for a 4^th to 6^th grade Children’s Choir is set for Wednesday and Thursday, December 14 and 15, 2022. The choir will perform in the Montville Township High School Theatre Company’s spring 2023 musical production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.  Auditions will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on 12/14/22 and 12/15/22. The audition is open to all district singers, from Montville Township Public Schools, in grades 4 through 6. The casting call will take place in the MTHS auditorium. 

A Bright Future - I recently visited a “swearing-in ceremony” of the Woodmont Elementary School 5th grade student safety patrol volunteers by the Morris County Sheriff. Prior to the ceremony, I asked the students what they wanted to be when they grow up. Four young women said they wanted to be scientists, several students expressed interest in working with animals, some of the children told me they would become a doctor, and one young man, with full conviction, shared his desire to interpret satellite images. In this brief moment of interacting with these students, they enthusiastically shot their hands in the air to be picked to share their future endeavors. When called upon, they smiled brightly and proudly shared their dreams. They spoke to me with confidence and joy.

Five Montville Township High School Students Receive Recognition for Excellence in Academics, Athletics, Arts, Community Service and Leadership - Congratulations to these outstanding ShopRite STARS: Brendan Glennon – Academics; Joe Rehberg – Athletics; Yoo Jin Kang - Arts; Sahana Vaidya - Community Service and Shriya Minocha – Leadership. Superintendent Dr. Thomas A Gorman and BOE Vice President Michael Palma presented the awards.

Supervisor of World Languages and ESL, Tamar Spitzer, has secured a $10,000 grant from CIEE to start a Council for International Education Exchange program at Montville Township High School - All high school students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply. With the grant, the first 10 applicants will receive $1,000 off the cost of the program. Every summer CIEE offers scholarship to students who qualify for both merit and financial need scholarships. CIEE offers four week-long World Language programs (French, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, German, Arabic and Japanese), where students can receive 4 college credits through Tulane University. Additionally, they offer programs in Science, International Relations, Arts, Business and Leadership (students can receive 12-50 service hours).

Active and Retired Service Men and Women Thanked with Song, Ceremony, Decorations and Luncheon - In honor of Veterans Day, the students of Cedar Hill Elementary School, in Montville Township, New Jersey, shared a full day of commemoration and gratitude on Friday, November 18, 2022. The 329 students welcomed the active duty and retired service men and women to the Cedar Hill community. The students, who range in age from kindergarten to grade 5, spent more than a month preparing the school for the Veterans Day event.

William Mason Elementary Students Ran Laps and Gave Thanks - The Fifth Annual William Mason Turkey Trot was held on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. The brisk morning event challenged William Mason Elementary School’s 310 students to run two laps before 9:30 a.m. Gratitude and exercise are the themes for this annual William Mason annual event.

Mustangs’ Coaches, Families, Friends and MTHS Administrators Were On Hand to Celebrate National Signing Day - Congratulations to Ian Kaiser, Binghamton University – Baseball; Caitlin Olensky, University of Nebraska – Softball; and Karl Monaco, Columbia University - Wrestling. Excitement defined the Signing Day event, as friends, family and the MTHS Mustang Mascot joined the celebration. Additionally, MTHS administrators, principal Douglas Sanford and Athletic Director Wayne Guarino congratulated each of the students and their families. Coaches Jason DeVirgilio for baseball, John Immediato for softball and John Krip for wrestling were also there to support their players as the students signed.

MTHS Seniors Yoo Jin Kang and Samantha Ko have won the NJ Youth Leadership Award sponsored by the New Jersey Chinese Teacher Association - Only 20 NJ students received this award. According to the NJCTA website, the award "recognizes student leaders who have actively participated in Asian cultural activities both inside and outside school and have distinguished themselves in these programs."

Cedar Hill, William Mason and Woodmont Elementary Schools all have the same architectural plan. In all cases the gym windows are very energy inefficient, and the external metal work, that encloses the gym, is beginning to deteriorate. Plans to replace the windows, and enclose the metal work in watertight resurfacing, are underway. These renovation projects are three of the many construction initiatives moving forward throughout the district. New entryways are nearly finalized at Lazar and Valley View. Renovated parking lots were installed at Hilldale and Valley View. Valley View’s aging unit ventilators are being replaced. And the MTHS state-of-the-art track and field is complete.

MTHS senior Mirella Richard recently received The Gold Congressional Award for Voluntary Service - The medal is the United States Congress' highest honor for young Americans. A senior at MTHS, she completed 400 hours of Voluntary Public Service, 200 hours of Personal Development, 200 hours of Physical Fitness, and 4 nights/5 days of Expedition/Exploration to achieve the Congressional Gold Medal. This is in addition to the volunteer work she completed throughout the pandemic to achieve the Congressional Bronze and Silver. Richard is a member of the MTHS Class of 2023. In the final leg of her journey in pursuit of her Gold Medal, Richard volunteered at Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter in East Hanover, Homeless Solutions in Morristown, and Arts High School in Newark (as part of NJSO Youth Orchestras).

Superintendent  Dr. Thomas A. Gorman shared a letter with Parents and Guardians on August 15, 2022. "The mission of the Montville Township Public Schools is 'to develop well-rounded, invested, and inspired students by engaging them in an experience of collaboration with educators, parents, and community that fosters a culture of innovation, character, and inclusivity in a shared spirit of pride.'  To accomplish this, we will work together to continue establishing the highest quality of learning through a powerful and rigorous learning environment," Dr. Gorman wrote. 

Twenty-seven New Staff Prepare for 2022-2023 Academic Year - “New Teacher Orientation” was held Monday, August 22, through Wednesday, August 24, 2022. Montville Township Public Schools will open to students on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. All faculty and staff will return to the district for the 2022-2023 academic year on Thursday, September 1, 2022.

Only 181 Educators Received this New Jersey Department of Education Recognition - Dominic Esposito, who is principal at Woodmont Elementary School, learned of being named a NJ DOE 2022 New Jersey Exemplary Educator during a surprise PA announcement made by Superintendent Dr. Thomas A. Gorman during the school’s morning announcements on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Only 181 educators in the entire state received this honor. Esposito has been principal at Woodmont since 2013.

Educate. Inspire. Empower - Over 75% of the MTHS student body attended the school's Club Fair on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. The exciting and popular event was scheduled in the gym during Fall Spirt Week. MTHS sponsors over 40 clubs. Both as advisors, and as participants, faculty, staff and student leaders support each of the clubs.

Respect is fragile and not easily come by. As we too often see in the news, respect is rare - The basic human right of respect was penned by Thomas Jefferson 246 years ago in the Declaration of Independence when he wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  Understanding that we all are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness means that we all have the same equality to these rights as our neighbor or classmate. These rights are further elevated by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights...

Superintendent's Column - September 30, 2022 - The First 100 Days - Excitement and pride are at the foundation of our success. With all of us -- BOE Trustees, faculty and staff, students and families, and the community -- working together to build on that foundation, we will help every student reach their fullest potential in a learning environment of the highest quality. 

In his September 1, 2022, letter to parents and guardians, Superintendent  Dr. Thomas A. Gorman shared information regarding the relaxing of Covid-19 protocols, an introduction to Chartwells, the new lunch service provider at Lazar and MTHS, and an update on the facilities improvements that have taken place throughout the district during the summer of 2022.

National Exercise Program Launches from Montville Township Public Schools - Len Saunders dedicates his career to making exercise fun. The innovative Physical Education teacher was interviewed by NBC News during Valley View Elementary School’s 14^th Annual EXERCISE US program. The NBC interview also coincided with the launch of Saunders' 9th book: "Coach Lenny's School Tips: Top 10 Physical Activity Skills Your Child Should Master Entering Kindergarten."  NBC interviewed Saunders, students: Melaina Naveendra (grade 5), Brady Smith (3), Alexa Semren (5) and Zakariyya Ali (5), as well as Principal Dr. Patricia Kennedy and Superintendent Dr. Thomas A. Gorman.

Collaborative Solar Project to Save District Nearly $1Million Over 15 Years - Montville Township Public Schools and Solar Landscape launched a collaboration last year to harness solar energy through solar panels placed on 6 of the district’s schools. Business Administrator Katine Slunt and 5th grade student Shanvi Mahida, of Woodmont Elementary School, are featured the new video. The solar project was made possible through a 15-year solar power purchase agreement which enabled the school district to install the panels at no cost and purchase the electricity they generate at guaranteed discounts every month. The district’s utility cost savings are expected to be nearly $1 million over the term of the agreement. Additionally the installation reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

39 Teachers Were Recognized for a Collective 795 Years of Dedication to Education - Music teacher, Janice Scharf, was presented with a pin of recognition for her 35 Years of Service to the Montville Township Public Schools. Scharf was one of 39 teachers recognized for their years of service on Thursday, September 1, 2022. Combined, the 39 dedicated faculty and staff members have logged 795 Years of Service to the Montville Township Public Schools. Years of Service pins were presented to those who have 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 Years of Service.

Ali Giordano is one of only six students in the United States, grades 3 through 12, to have been awarded The John Estey Student Writing Competition Award presented by the American Writers Museum - Giordano wrote the poem while an 8th grade student in Suezette Given's ELA class. The poem will be tied to AWM's upcoming exhibit Dark Testament, which opens September 22. Entitled Where I’m From, Giordano's award winning work was inspired by the following quote by James Baldwin: “The place in which I’ll fit will not exist until I make it.”

Highlights of the 2022-2023 school budget include: The addition of three elementary teaching positions due to enrollment changes. The addition of one part time Basic Skills Teacher and one part time ESL Teacher. Additional related and extraordinary services based on student needs. Increased costs in the area of transportation due to rising fuel prices and bus driver shortages. Renovation projects including: Upgrading the entrance security at Lazar Middle School, repairs to external wall panels at Cedar Hill, William Mason and Woodmont Schools, Replacement of the gym windows at Woodmont School, Improvements to the exterior entrance and signage at Valley View School, Univentilator replacement at Valley View School, paving at Hilldale, William Mason and Valley View Schools. The budget reflects the addition of several teaching positions. The full presentation is available on the district website at 2022-2023 Public Hearing on the Budget.

At No Cost to the District, the Solar Installation is Expected to Save Schools Nearly $1 Million Over 15 Years and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions - The solar project was made possible through a 15-year solar power purchase agreement which enables the school district to install the panels at no cost and purchase the electricity they generate at guaranteed discounts every month. The district’s utility cost savings are expected to be more than $980,000 over the term of the agreement. In addition to installing solar panels, Solar Landscape will also be facilitating educational programming about clean energy and climate change for the district’s students. The company’s workforce development director, will work with the district’s teachers to provide learning materials and educational solar kits.

An Innovative Educator, Dr. Gorman Will Begin His Position as Superintendent of Montville Township Public Schools on July 1, 2022 - Dr. Thomas A. Gorman was appointed Superintendent of the Montville Township Public Schools on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. The resolution of Dr. Gorman’s appointment was unanimously passed by the Montville Township Board of Education. Dr. Gorman’s appointment is effective as of July 1, 2022, following the retirement of Superintendent Dr. René T. Rovtar on June 30. READ MORE: www.montville.net/news/superintendent-dr-thomas-a-gorman